Motorists are urged to put down their electronic devices and focus on driving during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released new survey results that show that Americans continue to use electronic devices while driving, despite warnings that it causes their own driving to deteriorate and can lead to crashes, injuries and even death. The new data are being released at the start of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The new data include statistics from the 2012 Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behaviors Survey and the 2011 National Occupant Protection Use Survey on Driver Electronics Use, as well as the 2011 Distraction Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data. All three reports are being highlighted in the premier issue of NHTSA’s SAFETY 1N NUM3ERS online monthly auto safety…

BLOOMFIELD TWP. (WWJ/AP) – A 47-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who was arrested for allegedly driving a riding lawn mower while intoxicated has issued a plea in the case.

Roy Walton pleaded guilty Wednesday in Oakland County Circuit Court to operating while intoxicated — his third such offense. Judge Wendy Potts told Walton he can expect his sentence to include a minimum of 45 days in jail due to his two previous drunk driving convictions.

Defense lawyer John Secrest sought a 30-day suspended sentence. He told Potts that jail “seemed like a harsh penalty for driving a lawn mower.”

Police say Walton on March 22 drove a riding mower on the sidewalk to a drug store at Woodward and Square Lake Road. Officers arrested Walton as he left the store and tried to continue his journey. His “vehicle” was impounded.

When tested at the scene, police say Walton had a blood alcohol level of 0.10…

Police report that Jennifer B. Lemen, 32, was traveling on Oregon 99E in her Ford Explorer with passenger Hugh A. Averette, 33, and her three children, ages 5 to 9 (names not released). At some point during the trip, Lemen and Averette began to argue and Averette grabbed the steering wheel. Lemen then lost control of the vehicle; it flipped over and left the roadway. It then collided with a house on the side of the road. While the home did suffer foundation and structural damage, no one inside was injured.

Both Lemen and Averette are facing charges for the crash. Averette was arrested and booked into the Marion County jail under charges relating to…

With over 100,000 pedestrian accidents annually, road of the US cannot be called safe for people. Around 50% of the people die due to pedestrian accidents other get injured. The extent of the injuries can range from minor injuries to brain injuries, broken bones, and complete disfigurement, temporary or permanent disablement. Who is at fault?

The pedestrian can be at fault too, but most commonly the fault lies with the car driver who is in charge of controlling the vehicle and can save, if possible, the pedestrian from injury. When a child runs in front of a speeding car and is too close to the vehicle, generally the fault lies with the child as at that particular instance, the driver is unable to stop the car or the panic situation might force the driver to act otherwise. Whatever the case may be, the fault needs to be ascertained and…

HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) — Less than a year after he killed a Howard County man, a drunk driver may soon walk free. Now the friends and family of the victim, 22-year-old Matthew Cheswick, are coming together to keep his killer behind bars.

Meghan McCorkell has more on their efforts.

That drunk driver was sentenced to five years in prison. The victim’s family is outraged he could soon be up for parole.

He was known for his smile that lit up a room but 22-year-old Matthew Cheswick’s life was cut short.

“Matthew…he just had a heart of gold. He really, really had a heart of gold,” said his mother, Cecilia Roe.

Last Memorial Day weekend, Cheswick was crossing Coastal Highway in Ocean City when he was struck by a drunk driver. Thirty-year-old Diogo Facchini just kept going, only stopping when witnesses chased him.